Clamping mechanism for litter-supporting cables.



W. GUTENKUNST. GLAMPING MEGHANISM FOR LITTER SUPPORTING GABLES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

938,847. Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 16, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@ M r M440 attmmaqg We human fi WM O e W WILLIAM GUTENKUN ST, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

OLAMPING MECHANISM FOR LITTER-SUPPORTING CABLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 16, 1909.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Serial No. 512,968.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM GUTEN- KUNST, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements in Clamping Mechanism for Litter- Supporting Cables, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient device for clamping together two crossed carrier supporting cables or tracks, such as are used for supporting litter carriers, hay carriers and the like, at their junction with each other, whereby the lower or under cable is prevented from sagging or being forced down and away from the upper cable by the weight of a load thereon, and whereby the respective ends of a switch supported from said cables will be retained substantially upon the same plane, and a litter carrier or other vehicle may be readily moved from one cable to the other over said switch.

A further object of my invention is to provide a lever operated device by which the lower cable when sagging below the other may be caught up, raised and brought into position to be clamped to the other cable, also whereby the clamping mechanism may be released by the use of a pole and hook in the hands of an operator from a distance, or when standing on a lower plane.

The construction of my device is further explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 represents a side view of a clamping device suspended from the upper one of a pair of crossed cables preparatory to clamping the cables together. 2 is a side view of the device shown in Fig. 1, showing the position of the operating lever and lifting finger preparatory to raising the lower cable, and, Fig. 3 is a View drawn at right angles to the other figures showing the two cables clamped together.

Like parts are identified by the same reference numerals throughout the several views.

1 represents the upper cable and 2 the lower cable, which are adapted to be clamped together at their junction.

I My clamping device comprises a suspension member 4, provided at its upper end with a hook 3 adapted to engage the upper cable 1, while the lower end of said suspension member is pivotally connected with the operating lever 5 by the pivotal bolt 6.

7 is a lifting finger, which is adapted to engage beneath the lower cable as indicated in Fig. 2, whereby as the lever 5 is drawn downward, the cable 2 is raised as shown in Fig. 1, when it is brought into locking engagement with the other cable, as shown in Fig. 3.

8 is a cable retaining recess formed in the upper end of the lever 5 for the reception of the lower cable, and 9 is a cable retaining recess formed in the upper end of the suspension member 41. The recess 9 is formed directly above or preferably a little at the left of the pivotal bolt 6 and centrally beneath the hook 3, whereby as the lever is drawn down beneath the pivotal bolt 6, the lower cable 2 is brought into said recess 9, when the crossed cables are thereby con nected together as shown in Fig. 3.

To enable me to operate the device at a distance, the lever 5 is preferably provided with an aperture 10 for the reception of an operating hook 11, which hook is connected with a pole 12, whereby a person is enabled to operate the clamping device at a distance or when the location is such that the same cannot be readily reached.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

1. In a device for clamping over-head crossed cables together, the combination of a suspension member, provided with a hook adapted to engage and be suspended from the upper cable, and a recess for the reception of the lower cable of an operating lever pivotally connected to said suspension member and provided with a lifting member, adapted as said lever is lowered to engage and raise said cable and throw the same into the retaining recess of said suspension member.

2. The combination of two cables arranged at an angle to each other, a suspension member provided with a hook adapted to engage the upper-most of said cables and with a recess for the reception of the lower In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM GUTENKUNST.

Witnesses:

O. R. IRWIN, J. B. IRWIN. 

